CJ Bailey delivers 3 TD passes as NC State overtakes Wake Forest

Field Level Media|published: Thu 11th September, 23:31 2025

NCAA Football: North Carolina State at Wake Forest

Sep 11, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons wide receiver Chris Barnes (10) returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown in the first half against North Carolina State Wolfpack at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Luke Jamroz-Imagn Images

CJ Bailey threw three touchdown passes and Hollywood Smothers ran for 163 yards to help North Carolina State rally past Wake Forest for a 34-24 victory in both teams' Atlantic Coast Conference opener on Thursday in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Tight end Justin Joly caught two touchdown passes, and NC State took its first lead on Bailey's 12-yard pass to Keenan Jackson with 12:37 remaining.

NC State (3-0, 1-0 ACC) scored the game's final 20 points, capped by Kanoah Vinesett's 37-yard field goal with 6:19 remaining. Bailey finished 23 of 32 for 201 yards in the air, while Smothers had 24 carries.

Wake Forest's only first down of the second half prior to the two-minute timeout came on an NC State penalty.

Chris Barnes returned a kickoff for a touchdown and made a long reception to set up the game's second touchdown for the Demon Deacons (2-1), who lost for the first time under first-year coach Jake Dickert.

Wake Forest quarterback Robby Ashford went 21-for-35 for 242 yards and two interceptions. Standout running back Demond Claiborne was held to 35 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

Joly's second touchdown reception on a 4-yard play in the third quarter allowed the Wolfpack to pull even at 24-24.

After lots of first-half offense for Wake Forest, the Demon Deacons picked up only 3 yards total on their three third-quarter possessions.

Barnes returned the game's opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. Claiborne's 1-yard run pushed the Demon Deacons to a 14-0 lead less than eight minutes into the game.

NC State got on the board on its next possession as Bailey's 5-yard touchdown toss to Joly on fourth-and-1 completed a 75-yard march. The score was even at 14-14 before the end of the first quarter courtesy of 276-pound defensive tackle Isaiah Shirley's 41-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Wake Forest needed nine plays to retake the lead on Ashford's 1-yard run. The lead grew to 24-14 on Connor Calvert's 28-yard field goal.

The Wolfpack pulled within 24-17 before halftime on Vinesett's 24-yard field goal. Smothers rushed for 81 first-half yards.

--Field Level Media